Re: Best format for configuration file?

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From: Cezary Nolewajka (c.nolewajka-no-sp-am-eh_at_no-sp-am-eh-mail.com)
Date: 02/06/04 

Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004 17:29:12 +0100

If you want to write to the config file from your application you cannot use
the app.config file.

I reckon the best and most flexible solution is XML Serialization. Moreover,
it has advantages towards flat <appSettings> element and it's subelements.

Using XML Serialization you can desing your own class with all application
settings you need and simply serialize/deserialize it into/from a file.

You gain read/write settings capabilities and more complex settings
structure including even arrays and nested elements.

You can go as far as:
<Settings>
    <Section1>
        <OptionName value="123" output="098324-2" />
        <OptionName value="kljewr" output="098324-2" />
        <OptionName value="-93mc[" output="098324-2" />
        <OptionName value="[apioewcr" output="098324-2" />
    </Section1>
    <Section2>
        <OptionName value="123" output="098324-2" />
        <OptionName value="kljewr" output="098324-2" />
        <OptionName value="-93mc[" output="098324-2" />
        <OptionName value="[apioewcr" output="098324-2" />
    </Section2>
    ...
</Settings> 

-- 
Cezary Nolewajka
mailto:c.nolewajka-no-sp-am-eh@no-sp-am-eh-mail.com
remove all "no-sp-am-eh"s to reply
"Jimbo" <None> wrote in message
news:OhO0%23YL7DHA.1852@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> What's the best format to save a configuration file?
> I'm currently using an INI extension and I write it like a normal ascii
> file. Is this the best way? I've heard of using XML to create a config
file.
> What would be the best format?
>
> Thank you.
>
>

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